1996 PONTIAC PONTIAC wheel

Your vehicle has a light
that comes on as a reminder
to buckle up. (See “Safety
Belt Reminder Light” in
the
Index.)
In most states and Canadian provinces, the law says to
wear safety belts. Here’s why: They work.
You never know if you’ll be in a crash. If you do have a
crash, you don’t
know if it will be a bad one.
A
few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so
serious that even buckled up a person wouldn’t survive.
But most crashes are in between. In many of them,
people
who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk
away. Without belts they could have
been badly hurt
or killed.
After more than
25 years of safety belts in vehicles,
the facts
are clear. In most crashes buckling up does
matter .. , a lot!
Why Safety Belts Work
When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as
it goes.
Tike the simplest vehicle. Suppose it’s just a seat
on wheels.
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SRS AIR BAG
There is an air bag readiness
light on the instrument
panel, which shows
SRS AIR BAG or the
air bag symbol.
The system checks the air bag’s electrica
malfunctions. The light tells
you if there
I system for
is an electrical
problem. See “Air Bag Readiness Light” in the Index
for more information.
How the Air Bag System Works
Where is the air bag?
The driver’s air bag is in the middle of the steering wheel.
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The right front passenger’s air bag is in the instrument
panel.on the
passenger’s side.
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Don’t put anything on, or attach anything to,
the steering wheel or instrument panel.
Also,
don’t put anything (such as pets or objects)
between any occupant and the steering wheel
or
instrument panel. If something is between an
occupant and
an air bag, it could affect the
performance
of the air bag -- or worse, it could‘
cause injury.
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When should an air bag inflate?
The’ air bag is designed to inflate in moderate to severe
frontal or near-frontal crashes. The air bag will inflate
only if the impact speed
is above the system’s designed
“threshold level.” If your vehicle goes straight into a
wall that doesn’t move or deform, the threshold level is
about
9 to 15 mph (14 to 24 km/h). The threshold level
can
vary, however, with specific vehicle design, so that
it can be somewhat above or below this range. If your
vehicle strikes something that will move or deform, such
as a parked car, the threshold level will be higher. The
air bag is not designed to inflate in rollovers, side
impacts or rear impagts,
., - .because. iflation. would not
help the occupant.
. In any particular crash, no one can say whether an air
bag
should have inflated simply because of the damage
to a vehicle or because
of what the repair costs were.
Inflation is determined by the angle of the impact and
the vehicle’s deceleration. Vehicle damage is only one
indication of this.
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What makes an air bag inflate?
In a frontal or near-frontal impact of sufficient severity,
the air bag sensing system detects that the vehcle
is
suddenly stopping as a result of a crash. The sensing
system triggers a chemical reaction of
the sodium azide
sealed in the inflator. The reaction produces nitrogen
gas, which inflates the air bag. The inflator, air bag and
related hardware are all part of the air bag modules
p,acked inside the steering wheel and in the instrument
panel
in front of the right front passenger.
How does an air bag restrain?
t
In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact
the steering.whee1 or the
instrument panel. The
air bag supplements the protection
provided
by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper body,
stopping the occupant more gradually. But
air bags would
not help
you in many types of collisions, including
rollovers, rear impacts and side impacts, primarily because
an occupant’s motion’is not toward the air bag. Air
bags should never be regarded as anything more than
a supplement
to safety belts, and then only in moderate
to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions.
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What will you see after an air bag inflates?
After the air bag inflates, it quickly deflates. This occurs
so quickly that some people may not even realize the air
bag inflated.
Some components of the air bag module in
the steering wheel hub for the driver’s air bag, or the
instrument panel for the right front passenger’s bag, will
be hot for a short time. The part of the bag that comes
into contact with you may be warm, but it will never
be
too hot to touch. There will be some smoke and dust
corning from vents in the deflated air bags.
Air bag
inflation will not prevent the driver from seeing or
from
being able to steer the vehicle, nor will it stop people
from leaving the vehicle.
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When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air.
people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble.
To avoid this, everyone in the
vehicle should
get out as soon as it is safe to do so.
If you have breathing problems but can’t get out
of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get
fresh
air by opening a window or door.
~ This dust could cause breathing problems for
I
In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may
also occur from the
right front passenger’s air bag.
0 The air bags are designed to inflate only once. After
they inflate,
you’ll need some new parts for your air
bag system.
If you don’t get them, the air bag system
won’t be there to help protect you in another crash.
A new system will include air bag modules and
possibly other parts. The service manual for your
vehicle covers
the need to replace other parts.
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Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
diagnostic module, which records information about
the air bag system. The module records information
about the readiness of the system, when the ‘sensors
are activated and driver’s safety belt usage at
deployment. Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Pontiac
Air bags affect how your Pontiac should be serviced.
There
are parts of the air bag system in several places
around your vehicle. You don’t want the system to
inflate while someone is working on your vehicle. Your
Pontiac dealer and the Grand Prix Service Manual have
Let only qualified technicians work
on your air
information about servicing your vehicle and the air bag
bag system. Improper service can mean that your
system. To purchase a service manual, see “Service and
air bag system won’t work properly. See your dealer
Owner Publications” in the Index.
for service.
NOTICE:
If you damage the cover for the driver’s or the
right front passenger’s air bag, they may not
work properly.
You may have to replace the air
bag module in the steering wheel or both the air
bag module and the instrument panel
for the
right front passenger’s air bag.
Do not open or
break the air bag covers.
I
For up to 10 seconds after the ignition key is
turned
off and the battery is discomiected, an air
bag can still inflate during improper service. You
can be injured if you are close to an air bag when
it inflates. Avoid wires wrapped with yellow tape
or yellow connectors. They are probably part
of
the air bag system. Be sure to follow proper
service procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you
is qualified to do so.
The air bag system does not need regular maintenance.
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Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your Pontiac has
a number of theft-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put on it can make
it impossible to steal. However, there are ways you
can help.
Key in the Ignition
If you leave your vehicle with the keys inside, it’s an
easy target for joy riders or professional thieves
-- so
don’t do it.
When you park your Pontiac and open the driver’s door,
you’ll hear a chime reminding you to remove
your key
from
the ignition and take it with you. Always do this.
Your steering wheel will be locked, and so will your
ignition and transaxle., And remember to lock the doors.
Parking at Night
Park in a lighted spot, close all windows and lock your
vehicle. Remember
to keep your valuables out of sight.
Put them in
a storage area, or take them with you.
Parking Lots
If you park in a lot where someone will be watching
your vehicle, it’s best
to lock it up and take your keys.
But what if you have to leave your ignition
key? what if
you have to leave something valuable in your vehicle?
0 Put your valuables in a storage area, like your trunk
0 Lock the glove box.
Lock all the doors except the driver’s.
0 Then take the door key with you.
or
glove box.
PASS-Key@ I1
Your vehicle is equipped
with the PASS-Key
I1
(Personalized Automotive
Security System)
theft-deterrent system.
PASS-Key
I1 is a passive
tbeft-deterrent system.
It works when you insert
or remove the key from
the ignition.
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PASS-Key 11 uses a resistor pellet in the ignition key
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New Vehicle 66Break-InS’ Ignition Positions
Your modern Pontiac doesn’t need an elaborate
“break-in.” But
it will perform better in the long
run
if you follow these guidelines:
Don’t drive at any one speed
-- fast or
slow
-- for the first 500 miles (804 km).
Don’t make full-throttle starts.
Avoid making hard stops for the first
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings aren’t
yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking-in guideline every
time
you get new brake linings.
Don’t tow a trailer during break-in, See
‘‘Towing a Trailer’’ in the Index for more
information.
C
A i E
With the ignition key in the ignition switch, you can twn
the switch to five positions.
ACC (A): This position lets you use things like the
radio and windshield wipers when the engine is
off. To
use ACC (Accessory), push in the key and turn it toward
you. Your steering wheel will stay locked.
LOCK (B): Before you put the key into the ignition
switch, the switch
is in the LOCK position. It’s also the
only position in which you can remove your key.
This
position locks your ignition, steering wheel and
transaxle. It’s a theft-deterrent feature.
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